Holddown for ceiling access panels



Dec. 2, 1969 R. P. LICKLITER ET 3,481,088

- HOLDDOWN FOR CEILING ACCESS PANELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 6, 1967Dec. 2, 1969 R. P. LICKLITER ET AL 3,481,038

V HOLDDOWN FOR CEILING ACCESS PANELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 6, 19 7ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O HOLDDOWN FOR CEILING ACCESS PANELS Robert P.Lickliter and Earl Abbott, Hamburg, and John F. Reeves, Tonawanda, N.Y.,assignors, by mesne assignments, to Flangeklamp Corporation, Buflfalo,N.Y.,

a corporation of New York Filed July 6, 1967, Ser. No. 651,597 Int. Cl.E04b 5/57, 1/343 US. 'Cl. 52-127 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Anintegral ceiling having an access panel is supported by a grid systemincluding main and cross beam members, the access panel includes twopanel segments supporting tion, a pair of locking members carried on theend of one segment to hold down the other segment and are slidablelaterally into openings in the cross beams members to lock the accesspanel in closed position, said locking members are hidden but accessiblefrom below the panel to selectively lock and release the panel withoutinterrupting ceiling decor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a grid forsupporting ceiling panels from an overhead structure and particularly toa releasable holddown arrangement for an access panel forming a part ofan integral suspended ceiling.

It is known to provide suspended ceilings comprising panels supported bya grid of interlocking beams, wherein the supporting grid is concealed.Such ceilings have an enhanced appearance as contrasted with suspendedceilings where the supporting grid is exposed.

However, such concealed systems require special provisions for gainingaccess to the space thereabove. It is known to provide access panels inconcealing ceiling systems which can be swung upwardly from below.However, these pose a problem when the ceiling is to be fire-rated,because of the fear that such freely movable access panels may destroythe requisite integrity of the ceiling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of this invention toprovide an access panel in a concealed suspended ceiling wherein theceiling integrity is maintained.

It is another object of this invention to provide an access panel in anintegral suspended ceiling having a grid supporting a plurality ofceiling panels with means releasably locking the access panel in closedposition flush with adjacent ceiling panels providing a smooth,continuous ceiling surface and uninterrupted ceiling decor.

A further object of the invention is to provide the foregoingcharacteristics in a locking arrangement hidden above the exposedceiling surface but accessible from below the ceiling to lock and unlockthe access panel without interrupting the decor of the ceiling surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspectiveviewof the upper side of an integral suspended ceiling illustrating inpartially opened position an access panel constructed in accordance withthe present invention;

' FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross sectional view thereof takenabout on line 22 of FIG. 1 .With the access panel in closed position andwith parts broken out for ease of illustration;

' FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view thereof taken about online 33 of FIG. 2 with parts broken out for convenience in illustration;

for freely pivoting upwardly from below to an open posi- 7 DETAILEDDESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, there isillustrated a portion of a suspended ceiling having a supporting gridgenerally comprising spaced, parallel main beam support member 10, aplurality of spaced cross support members 11, 11 extending at rightangles to and supported by and between main support members 10, and aplurality of auxiliary support spline members 12 extending parallel tomain support members 10 between adjacent cross support members 11 and11'. The support grid is adapted for suspension from an overheadstructure by wires or other conventional means, not shown, in a mannerunderstood in the art. Member 10, 11, 11 and 12 are formed to supportceiling panels 13 in a manner to afford a rigid, integral suspendedceiling having a continuous, uninterrupted exposed ceiling surfacethrough which an access panel, generally designated 14, is provided. Itwill be understood that the ceiling comprising grid members 10, 11, 11and 12 and panels 13 may extend to any length and breadth desired, andthat an access panel 14 can be positioned between any pair of adjacentmain support members 10 in virtually any desired location therealong.

While not limited thereto main beam support members 10 are formed in theshape of an inverted T and fabricated from a single piece of sheetmaterial to comprise a normally vertical web portion 15 (FIG. 2)surmounted by a longitudinally extending, box-like reinforcing bead 16and having along its bottom edge lateral flanges 17 and 18 on oppositesides thereof.

As seen in FIG. 5, cross support members 11 comprise paired support andsaddle splines 19 and 20, respectively. Support splines 19 arefabricated from a single piece of sheet material to comprise a halfcoped spline in the shape of an L having web and flange portions 21 and22, respectively. Connecting members are provided at the ends of supportspline 19 in the form of a generally inverted J-shaped hook 23 (FIG. 2)having a pair of leg portions 24 and 25 straddling box section 16 ofmain support member 10. Each leg portion 24 bears on the associated mainbeam flange 17 or 18, as the case may be, and has an inward extension 26riveted or otherwise secured to web 21 of its associated support spline19 as shown at 27. Hooks 23 thereby comprise connecting membersextending from the ends of cross support members 11.

I Saddle splines 20 are coextensive with support splines 19. Each spline20 is fabricated from a single piece of sheet material to comprise agenerally Z-shaped cross section, as seen in FIG. 5, having a webportion 28, a lower horizontal flange 29 and an upper flange 30 inclineddownwardly on the side of web 28 opposite flange 29.

Cross support members 11' are provided at opposite ends of access panel14, and are'like cross members 11 except that a pair of saddle splines40 are provided in place of the single saddle spline 20, as will bedescribed hereafter.

Auxiliary support members 12 preferably are formed from a single pieceof thin gauge sheet material to comprise an inverted T spline having aweb portion 31 and flange portions 32 on opposite sides thereof, as seenin FIGS. 1 and 5, the opposite ends of flanges 32 being cut back fromthe ends of webs 31 to accommodate the associated flanges '22 and 29 ofthe saddle and support splines 19, 20 on which webs 31 bear whenassembled, as shown in FIG. 5 and as will presently be described.

Each ceiling panel 13 is provided along each of its four lateral edgeswith grooves or kerfs 33 for receiving the flanges of its associatedsupport members 10, 11, 11 and 12. Kerfs 33 divide the edges of panels13 into upper and lower lips 34 and 35, upper lip 34 being inset fromlower lip 35 to accommodate the webs of the associated support memberswhile lower lips 35 of adjacent panels 13 have a slight clearance slot36 therebetween when assembled.

The ceiling areas between adjacent cross support members 11, 11' andmain support members define panel sections A, B, C, D and E (FIG. 1)with each section, in the illustrated form, comprising four panels 13supported by the kerf engaging flanges of the surrounding members. Toform the ceiling, the lateral edges of adjacent panel sections engagepaired support and saddle splines 19, or 19, 40 with the saddle splines20, 40 on opposite lateral edges of one panel section hooking oversupport splines 19 forming the corresponding lateral edges of the nextadjacent panel sections. For example, the lateral edges of panelsections B and D engage support splines 19 whereon the lateral edges ofpanel sections A, C and E engage saddle splines 20, 40. Inclined flangesand 43 of saddle splines 20 and 40, respectively of sections A, C and Ebear on the corresponding support splines 19 of sections B and D, andhooks 23 at the ends of the cross beam support splines 19 of sections Band D bear on main beams 10, whereby all of the panel sections aresupported by main support members 10. Note that the ends of flanges 22and 29 of support and saddle splines 19 and 20, respectively, and theends of flanges 42 of saddle splines are inwardly spaced from thecorresponding flanges 17 and 18 of main support members 10.

The foregoing assembly is continuous throughout the ceiling structureand, with the interlocking of the support member flanges in theassociate kerfs of panels 13, there is provided a rigid, integralceiling barrier between a room and the space above.

Access panel 14 may be located at any desired position in the suspendedceiling in place of any panel section having saddle splines on itslateral edges and comprises generally a pair of panel segments 37 and 38eX- tending in end to end relation between main support members 10. Eachpanel segment 37, 38 includes a pair of saddle splines 40 along itsopposite lateral edges for hooking over respective support splines 19 onadjacent panel sections B, D. Saddle splines 40 are similar in crosssection to saddle splines 20 and comprise a web portion 41, a lowerhorizontal flange 42 and a downwardly inclined flange 43 surmounting web41 on the side thereof opposite flange 42. Saddle splines 40 extendalong only their associated panel segments 37, 38. With thisarrangement, it is seen that panel segments 37 and 38 are free to pivotupwardly about their remote ends (adjacent main beams 10) on axesindicated at 44 in FIG. 2 passing through the juncture of the remoteends of the inclined flanges 43 of saddle splines 40 and the ends ofwebs 21 of support splines 19. The end edges of inclined flanges 43 abutlegs 24 of hooks 23 preventing transverse displacement of panel segments37 and 38 and, in the access panel closed position (FIG. 2), the inner,adjacent ends of saddle splines 40 are spaced from each other. Duringopening movement of segments 37 and 38 kerfs 33 are withdrawn fromengagement about associated flanges 17 and 18 of main support members10, there being sufficient clearance between the inner ends of saddlesplines 40 and between flanges 17 and 18 and the upper and lower lips 34and 35 of associated panels 13 to provide for free pivoting movement ofthe segments about their axes 44 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4.

It is a particular feature of our invention that access panels 13 and 14can be positively locked against such upward opening, while beingreadily unlocked from below when access is desired. To this end, alocking connector generally designated 45 is provided between theadjacent ends of panel segments 37 and 38 to releasably hold down accesspanels 37, 38 in integral, flush relation with adjacent ceiling panels.Locking connector 45 includes a pair of saddle splines 46 similar tosplines 20 and 40, each having a horizontal lower flange 47 slidablymounted in the kerf of the inner end panel 13 of segment 37 and adownwardly inclined upper flange 48 for hooking over the upper end of ahalf coped spline 50 having a horizontal flange 51 mounted in kerf 33 ofpanel 13 on the adjacent end of segment 38. Each locking saddle spline46 has a stepped tongue 52 projecting longitudinally from its endsproviding an end tab 53 and a pair of Iongitudinally spaced shoulders 54and 55 at each end. Openings 56 are formed through the webs 21 of crossbeams 11 in alinement with locking splines 46 whereby the latter can beslid toward the adjacent cross beam support splines 19 to engage tabs 53in their respective openings 56 and thereby lock panel segments 37 and38 in closed position flush with the adjacent panels to provide asmooth, continuous and uninterrupted suspended ceiling.

It will be appreciated that the engagement of the inclined flanges 48 oflocking splines 46 over half coped spline 50 on segment 38 will holddown the latter, as seen in FIG. 2 and that, upon engagement of theforegoing locking arrangement, neither segment 37 nor 38 of access panel14 can be moved upwardly without first retracting tabs 53 from openings56.

It is a significant feature of this invention that locking connector 45,while located out of sight above access panel 14, is operable from belowthe suspended ceiling to both lock and unlock the access panels 14whereby the decor and ornamentation provided by the ceiling isuninterrupted. To lock access panel 14 in place from below the suspendedceiling, a screwdriver or like tool is inserted between the adjacentpanels 13 of segments 37 and 38 to engage behind shoulder 54 or 55 ofeither one of the locking splines 46, between the latter. The tool thenis moved along in the space between the panels 13 to slide the engagedlocking spline 46 toward the associated cross support member 11' toengage tab 53 in the corresponding opening 56. Tab 53 of the otherlocking spline 44 is similarly slid into its engagement with associatedopening 56. As seen in FIG. 2, there is a slight clearance betweenadjacent panels 13 throughout the entire ceiling, and with shoulders 54and 55 of web portions 57 (FIG. 4) of locking splines 46 in verticalregistry above the clearance space between the adjacent panels 13 ofsegments 37 and 38, it is apparent that splines 46 can be engaged andaccess panel 14 locked in position in this manner without changes in thedecor or ornamention of its undersurface distinguishing it from thesurmounting ceiling.

To release locking splines 46 from below, a screwdriver or the tool isinserted between adjacent panels 13 of segments 37 and 38 as before, toengage shoulders 55 on the ends of splines 46 adjacent cross beams 11'and slidably retract locking splines 46 toward each other. Tabs 53 arethereby withdrawn from engagement in their respective cross beamopenings 56. As noted previously, the inner ends of saddle splines 40are spaced apart, providing clearance between shoulders 55 and theassociated webs 21 of support splines 20 into which the tool can beinserted. Segments 37 and 38, when thus freed of interlocking connectionwith their adjacent panel sections, can be pivoted upwardly by pushingfrom below thereby providing access into the space between the suspendedceiling and the overhead supporting structure.

Where fireproof panels are utilized, ceiling integrity can be maintainedthroughout even in the event of a fire. Note that legs 24 of hooks 23and flanges 22 and 29 are spaced inwardly from main support 10 and thatflanges 22 are slidable on their associated kerfs. In this manner, crossmembers 11 and 11' can expand lengthwise toward main support memberswithout destroying the integrity of the ceiling.

It is thus apparent that the objects of my invention have beenfulfilled. The decor of the suspended ceiling is uninterrupted by theaccess panel and the integrity of theceiling is maintained with theaccess panel in locked position. When access is desired, the accesspanel is readily unlocked from below the ceiling easily opened bypushing upwardly thereagainst.

Having thus described and illustrated one preferred form, of ourinvention, it will be understood that such description and illustrationis by way of example only and that such modifications and changes as maysuggest themselves to those skilled in the art are intended to fallwithin the scope of the present invention as limited only by theappended claims.

We claim:

1. In a suspended ceiling having a grid system sup porting a pluralityof closely spaced ceiling panels including an access panel, wherein saidgrid system includes a pair of spaced parallel support members extendingalong opposite sides of said access panel and means supporting saidaccess panel adjacent one end thereof for pivotal movement about an axisnormal to said members between an open position providing access throughsaid ceiling and a closed position in which said access panel issubstantially coplanar with adjacent ceiling panels with the edges ofsaid access panel in closely spaced relation to the edges of saidadjacent panels to provide a substantially continuous exposed ceilingsurface, releasable locking means located in their entirety above saidexposed ceiling surface locking said access panel in said closedposition, said locking means including a locking member engaging saidaccess panel adjacent the opposite end thereof and movable relativethereto along an axis parallel to said pivot axis into and out oflocking engagement with one of said support members, said locking memberbeing accessible from below said ceiling surface to release said accesspanel for movement to said open position, said support members includingrelatively fixed support spline members and saddle spline memberscarried by said access panel on opposite sides thereof for movementtherewith, said saddle spline members engaging said support splinemembers for supporting said access panel against movement downwardlybelow said ceiling.

2. A suspended ceiling according to claim 1 wherein said access paneland an adjacent panel have a clearance slot therebetween, said lockingmember lying in substantially vertical registry with said slot andhaving shoulder means engageable through said slot from below saidceiling for sliding said locking member into and out of locking relationbetween said access panel and said grid system.

3. A suspended ceiling according to claim 2 wherein said locking memberhas first and second shoulders engageable through said slot from belowsaid ceiling when said access panel is in said closed position to extendand retract said locking member into and out of said locking relation.

4. A suspended ceiling according to claim 1 wherein said one supportmember has a lock part, said other end of said access panel lies inclose juxtaposition to another ceiling panel providing a clearance slottherebetween, said locking member lying in substantially verticalregistry with said slot and having a locking tab, said locking memberbeing engageable through said slot from below said ceiling surface forsliding along said access panel to engage said tab with said lock part.

5. A suspended ceiling structure as in claim 1, wherein there are a pairof said locking members engaging said access panel and movable into andout of engagement with both of said support members.

6. In a suspended ceiling having a grid system supporting a plurality ofclosely spaced ceiling panels including an access panel, wherein saidgrid system includes a pair of spaced parallel support members extendingalong opposite sides of said access panel, said access panel comprisinga pair of panel segments lying in end-to-end relation, said grid systemincluding means supporting said panel segments adjacent the remote endsthereof for pivotal movement about substantially parallel axes normal tosaid members between an open position providing access through saidceiling and a closed position in which said access panel segments aresubstantially coplanar with adjacent ceiling panels with the edges ofsaid access panel in closely spaced relation to the edges of saidadjacent panels to provide a substantially continuous exposed ceilingsurface, releasable locking means located in their entirety above saidexposed ceiling surface locking said access panel segments in saidclosed position, said locking means including a locking member betweensaid panel segments engaging the adjacent end of one of said segmentsand movable relative thereto along an axis parallel to said pivot axesinto and out of locking engagement with one of said support members,said locking member being accessible from below said ceiling surface torelease said access panel segments for movement to said open position,said support members including relatively fixed support spline membersand saddle spline members carried by the other of said access panelsegments on opposite sides thereof for movement therewith, said saddlespline members engaging said support spline members for supporting saidother access panel segment against movement downwardly below saidceiling, a spline member positioned between said access panel segmentsand engaging the adjacent end of said other segment, said looking memberengaging said last-named spline member for supporting said one accesspanel segment against movement downwardly below said ceiling and forholding said other segment against opening movement when said lockingmember is in looking engagement with said one support member.

7. A suspended ceiling according to claim 6 wherein the adjacent ends ofsaid segments lie in close juxtaposition providing a clearance slottherebetween, said locking member lying in substantially verticalregistry with said slot and being engageable through said slot frombelow said access panel for sliding along said segments into and out oflocking engagement with said grid member.

8. A suspended ceiling according to claim 7, one of said supportingmembers having a lock part, said locking member having a locking tab anda shoulder, said shoulder being engageable through said slot from belowsaid access panel to slide said locking tab into and out of engagementwith said lock part.

9. A suspended ceiling according to claim 6, wherein said panel segmentsare freely movable upwardly from below upon movement of said lockingmember out of locking engagement with said grid member.

10. In a suspended ceiling having a grid system supporting a pluralityof closely spaced ceiling panels including an access panel, meanssupporting said access panel for movement between an open positionproviding access through said ceiling and a closed position in whichsaid access panel is substantially coplanar with adjacent ceiling panelswith the edges of said access panel in closely spaced relation to theedges of said adjacent panels to provide a substantially continuousexposed ceiling surface, releasable locking maens located above saidexposed ceiling surface locking said access panel in said closedposition, said locking means being accessible from below said ceilingsurface to release said access panel for movement to said open position,said grid system including a first pair of spaced parallel supportmembers and a second pair of spaced parallel support members extendingsubstantially normal to said first pair of members, said access panelcomprising a pair of panel segments lying in end-to-end relation betweensaid pairs of support members and supported thereby for pivotal movementsubstantially about the lengthwise axes of said first support members,said panel segments having perimetrical grooves along the sides thereof,said first pair of support members having normally vertical Web portionsand normally horizontal flange portions loosely engaged in the groovesat opposite ends of said panel, said second support members eachincluding a support spline extending between and engaging said firstsupport members and a pair of saddle splines, said support splines eachhaving a normally vertical web portion and a normally horizontal flangeportion extending away from said access panel for engaging other panels,said saddle splines each having a normally vertical web portion, aninclined flange portion engaging over the Web portion of the adjacentsupport spline, and a normally horizontal flange portion engaging thegrooved side of the adjacent panel segment, each of said support splineshaving an opening through the web thereof between the associated pair ofsaddle splines, a pair of locking saddle splines and a half-coped splinebetween said panel segments, said half-coped spline having a normallyvertical web portion and a normally horizontal flange portion engaged inthe adjacent grooved side of one of said panel segments, said lockingsaddle splines each having a normally vertical web, an inclined flangeengaging over the web of said half-coped spline, and a normallyhorizontal flange engaging the adjacent grooved side of the other ofsaid panel segments, said locking saddle splines having tabs at theouter ends thereof for engagement With said second support memberopenings and being slidable along said second support members, saidlocking saddle splines having shoulders adjacent the opposite endsthereof for engagement from below said panel through the space betweensaid panel segments to slide said locking splines therealong.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,359,695 12/1967 Gazerro 521273,381,437 5/1968 Kidney 52-489 X FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner S. D.BURKE III, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 52-207, 476, 484

